Events in Virginia State Parks

Can you spot a bald eagle?

Westmoreland State Park is home to four different ambassador animals: Reba the corn snake, Stevie the king snake, and two red-eared sliders, Venus and Jennika.

Be on the lookout for our Roving Ranger as they roam the picnic area and beaches with interesting animals or historical artifacts from the park.

Join costumed interpreters for a demonstration of historical cooking methods in the Jones-Stewart Mansion's original brick kitchen. .

Join a ranger on for some fishing fun, on dry land!

Take your first shot at Archery 101, a beginner-friendly workshop perfect for curious kids and families eager to try something new.

Ever wanted to hike on an Island in the Sky AND in a Boreal Forest?

Connect your family to nature with our special programming for Kids to Parks Day.

Join our rangers as we create owls with pinecones and other natural elements found in the park.

These creatures might give you the creeps, but they play crucial roles in our ecosystem.

Toads, Turtles, and Snakes- Oh my!

So many adventures happen on the Bullpasture River, but what’s happening below the water surface?

Practice casting a fishing pole, no hooks required!

Take a closer look at the beauty that lies all around you.

A chance to make your very own leaf-bug craft while listening to a short story read by one of our rangers?

Create a hand-made, nature-inspired souvenir to take home.

Hop on over for a hands-on adventure into the world of frogs. Join park staff as we search for some of Virginia’s native frog species and their tadpoles.

Frogs, crawdads, and children - oh my!

What's under that rock?

Become an owl pellet detective as we dissect the clues an owl leaves behind.

Can you match the skull to its pelt?

The Catlett Islands are full of ghosts, but they aren’t what you think!

What do you know about our scaly friends?

Experience Sky Meadows, an International Dark-Sky Park, at this monthly astronomical celebration!

Step into the hidden world of nocturnal insects as Fairy Stone State Park comes alive after dark.

Join astronomy volunteers as they share the stories written in the night sky.

As the sun sets, the adventure shifts to the night sky - become a junior astronomer and uncover the mysteries above us.

Come join the storytellers from CHAOS (Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society) on the Observation Field to share the stories of the stars.

See the stars and explore our night sky with park rangers at this International Dark Sky Park!

Join us after dark to observe moths and other insects of the night. Entomologists Dr.

Take advantage of our remote location far from city lights to see brilliant night skies over the lake.

In 2007, the Virginia General Assembly enacted a law to establish a boating safety education compliance requirement.

Celebrate Kids to Parks Day at Sailor’s Creek with a hands-on Junior Historian Scavenger Hunt!

Take a 4-hour guided tour through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park!

Come watch our resident snake enjoy his mealtime in the Visitor Center!

This archery session offers instruction for beginners and shooting time for the more experienced. It begins with a talk on archery equipment, technique, and safety.

Why should we want to create spaces for bees and other pollinators?

Without pollinators, people and all of Earth's terrestrial ecosystems would not survive.

Create a flowerpot you can plant directly in the soil from upcycled newspaper. You’ll get some native-to-Virginia wildflower seeds to take home and support your local pollinators in this paper folding craft.  .

We may not always see our wildlife, but they leave behind clues for us to find.

Step back in time and test your skills with an atlatl!  An atlatl (spear thrower) was a tool used by some Indigenous tribes during the Paleoindian culture and Archaic period.

Turn trash into treasure at Caledon!

Learn the legend behind the naturally occurring stone cross formations and travel to the special location in the park to search for your own "fairy stone." After a short presentation on what you will be looking for, we will head to the site.

This historical building tour is designed to highlight the architecture of the time, designs, furnishings, special touches, ornate decor, and stories within the walls of the Jones-Stewart Mansion.

Westmoreland State Park is home to four different ambassador animals: Reba the corn snake, Stevie the king snake, and two red-eared sliders, Venus and Jennika.

Try your hand at panning for gold in the James River while discovering Virginia’s unique geology.

Discover the mysterious world of mushrooms and other fungi.  The journey begins with a presentation in the Visitor Center and includes a walk through the woods to identify the common and extraordinary, the safe and the deadly!

This is a “casting” call for miniatures enthusiasts and historic craft fans!

Enjoy a naturalist-led hike learning all about what's blooming and growing around you.  This easy hike will take visitors through our park's deciduous woodlands along the river granting an opportunity to see some of the New River’s native wildflowers and trees in one of the most biodiverse places on the planet! Please wear comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather, and bring plenty of water and snacks.

Murders over moonshine rocked the town of Fayerdale in the 1920s and 30s, leaving a dying town remembered for tragedy rather than the mining operations that once made it a boom town. Moonshining (illegal whiskey making) was quite prevalent in and around the Fairy Stone State Park area in the early 1900s. Jealousy, greed, and competition often led to feuds, brawls, and even killings.

Over 200 years ago, early adventurers like Daniel Boone walked these same hills and valleys we see today.

Want to know a secret?

Find the hidden creatures of the Shenandoah River.  Collect macroinvertebrates from the shallows near the canoe launch and discover how these creatures indicate water quality.

Join us for a Kayak Paddle trip to fossil beach!

Trees have magical qualities that provide us with many important everyday items, as well as a large portion of the oxygen we breathe.

Discover the timeless art of pine needle basket weaving and unlock your creativity with this hands-on workshop.

Fortifications throughout the Civil War came in many shapes and designs, using a small sand table and a few plastic figures, a ranger will demonstrate how a few select forts were constructed, the various terms and techniques that were used to describe defenses and how the forts themselves could be defended using plastic figures.

When a tree falls in the forest, what happens next?

It's been 250 years since the American Revolution began - experience Virginia's role in the revolution at this mobile museum for a limited time!

Do you know who's bones these are?

Learn the legend behind the naturally occurring stone cross formations and travel to the special location in the park to search for your own "fairy stone." After a short presentation on what you will be looking for, we will head to the site.

All are welcome at the Friends of Sailor's Creek Battlefield volunteer support group during their monthly meeting as they focus on a variety of objectives designed to assist the park's mission in preserving the hallowed grounds of the last major battle of the American Civil War in Virginia on April 6, 1865.

Every Monday evening from May to September you can find local fresh produce, baked goods, honey, jams and jellies, soap, and local artisan crafters, as well as food vendors, here at Fairy Stone State Park.

Join us at the park for a potluck supper and discover all the amazing things you can enjoy when you become a volunteer with the Friends of Smith Mountain Lake state Park.

Does seeing a bat make you shiver or smile?

Want to experience the New River Trail State Park in a way few people get a chance to?

Often overlooked as just a simple plant, lichen (which isn't even a plant) is one of nature's best examples of different organisms coming together to form a mutualistic relationship.

It's been 250 years since the American Revolution began - experience Virginia's role in the revolution at this mobile museum for a limited time!

Rangers from Leesylvania State Park will take your little ones on a nature adventure with reading, games, and crafts.

Pine needle crafting can rise to an art form, but one has to start somewhere.

Help support the park you love.

The Friends of Powhatan State Park is a group made up of citizen volunteers from Virginia’s Piedmont region who are passionate about supporting the park’s mission.

Join a volunteer for a guided birding walk throughout the park.

Join the Friends of Mason Neck and Fairfax Master Naturalists for a rewarding day of volunteer garden work!

Happy World Bee Day!

It's been 250 years since the American Revolution began - experience Virginia's role in the revolution at this mobile museum for a limited time!

Come explore nature's amazing spring happenings through the Powhatan Library's new educational series: Nature Days!

Just as caterpillars grow and change, our Caterpillar Club programs are designed to help your little one grow and change.

Join us as we learn more about the prehistoric history of Chippokes State Park through fossils that can be found right on our beaches!

Learn the legend behind the naturally occurring stone cross formations and travel to the special location in the park to search for your own "fairy stone." After a short presentation on what you will be looking for, we will head to the site.

Without pollinators, people and all of Earth's terrestrial ecosystems would not survive.

Cape Henry Lighthouse and First Landing State Park are excited to share with you the history of the Lighthouse right here at First Landing State Park.

The Friends of Twin Lakes State Park is an all-volunteer non-profit that supports Twin Lakes State Park.

Our park is known for its biodiversity and is home to many species of birds.

Take a 4-hour guided tour through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park!

Join a ranger to learn about science, history, and nature at Leesylvania State Park!

If you're curious about trees, satisfy your curiosity on this Arbor Adventure!  Join a ranger on Chippoax Trace Trail to identify Chippokes' fauna, specifically trees.  This trail takes visitors from rolling farm fields, into canopied woodlands, and to a worthwhile scenic view of the beautiful salt marshes of Chippokes.

From the small eastern screech owl to the great horned owl, eight species of owls call Virginia home part or all of the year.   Get a glimpse into the mysterious world of our elusive nocturnal raptors.

Are there beavers at Smith Mountain Lake?

Paddling a kayak gives you a new perspective of the world.

Learn the legend behind the naturally occurring stone cross formations and travel to the special location in the park to search for your own "fairy stone." After a short presentation on what you will be looking for, we will head to the site.

This historical building tour is designed to highlight the architecture of the time, designs, furnishings, special touches, ornate decor, and stories within the walls of the Jones-Stewart Mansion.

Trek the path many settlers walked and discover what life was like back when the legend was formed.

Look up and learn about tree diversity in the park!

Come out of your shell and spend some time getting to know the Eastern Box Turtle.

Stop by and investigate the variety of flora and fauna found around Smith Mountain Lake.

How did Pocahontas State Park come to be? What are the "Original 6" State Parks?

What track is that?

Meet Gertie and Birdie, our Educational Ambassadors, and interact with our knowledgeable rangers while they care for these beloved critters.

Trees have magical qualities that provide us with many important everyday items, as well as a large portion of the oxygen we breathe.